ngoldman

How About Taking A Florida Adventure Travel?



Posted: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

by ngoldman
Norm Goldman

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com is pleased to have as our guest Brian Mencher, Owner of Florida Adventure Treks, LLC.



Good day Brian and thank you for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Brian, please tell our readers something about yourself and how you started Florida Adventure Treks?

Brian:

In the summer of 2000, I took a four week adventure tour of the western United States. It was an extremely memorable trip. We traveled in a passenger van, camped in beautiful locations, and cooked camp side most nights. The following summer, working at a law firm in West Palm Beach, I would constantly look out the windows to daydream as the yachts passed by on the inter-coastal waterway. I began thinking about bringing the same idea of an adventure tour company to Florida. Though some companies did offer Florida trips, no company had the local knowledge or detailed itinerary to give visitors a truly authentic Florida experience. I knew there was a void.

After graduating from law school and working for law firms in New York City, I made the decision in late 2004 to start an adventure tour company in Florida. Alas, Florida Adventure Treks was born. We started with our Adventure Tours series seven (7) and fourteen (14) day trips featuring all-inclusive itineraries, such as transportation, entrance fees to national and state parks, Florida keys snorkeling, Everglades airboat tour, entrance fee to any Orlando theme park, and overnight camping accommodations. From there, we extended our offerings: Comfort Tour series, featuring the same Adventure Tour itineraries with B&B and historical inn accommodations, these tours targeted the traveler interested in having an adventurous vacation, but wanted a soft bed at the end of each day. And then we developed our Spring Break Road Trips - catering to the college market for those wanting to experience all the best of Florida Spring Break. We continue to shape our product offerings and provide expertise to customize tours for interested travelers.

Norm:

Where in Florida do you travel to? How long do you stay in each place? Why are these places unique and could you describe some of the places you visit?

Brian:

Our tours were designed to maximize traveler's time in each location, while also allowing our passengers to see a lot in a short period of time. The length of stay in any given location depends on which tour passengers select and the amount of time each group determines they want to stay in a location. We pride ourselves on offering flexibility in our tours. If passengers want to stay in one location longer or want to alter the itinerary, we can make it happen.

All of our tours visit: Miami, Orlando, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, N. Florida, Sanibel Island, Everglades National Park, Key Largo, and Key West. We spend between a few hours (as is the case for a quick visit to Daytona) to a full day (Orlando, St. Augustine, Key West) in other locations. On our fourteen day tour, The Floridian, we also visit Cape Canaveral, Homosassa Springs, and make two night stays in Orlando, St. Augustine, Sanibel Island, and Key West.

Our destinations are selected by combining Florida's most popular tourist attractions with many of its local gems. For instance, Miami's South Beach is a must see for its cultural diversity, Art-Deco architecture, and popular beaches. Any trip to Florida should also certainly include a visit to Orlando, the theme capital of the world and we provide each passenger with one ticket to any theme park of choice. St. Augustine offers a visit back in time providing many outlets to learn about this oldest city in the United States and get a taste of the Fountain of Youth. Homosassa Springs boasts a large population of the Florida manatee, one of the many endangered species living in Florida. A visit to N. Florida allows visitors a glimpse into a less visited area of the state with a tube ride down a forested spring fed river. Sanibel Island is a marquee destination for sea-shelling, sunsets, and fantastic bird watching. Everglades National Park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live together, and it provides passengers with an up close view of why the everglades are so important to Florida ecosystem and livelihood. An exciting airboat tour caps off a visit to the Everglades. And the Florida Keys are a must-do for visitors interested in snorkeling (which is included in the tour), excellent food, vibrant nightlife, and a rich history.

Depending on the season, and the particular dates of our tours, we also inform our tour leaders of local events happening in towns they will be visiting. For instance, if the Florida Marlins are playing a baseball game on the day we plan to be in the area, we can arrange tickets for our groups. Or, if a town in between two destinations is hosting a local festival, we can make a detour to explore other areas not originally on the itinerary.

Norm:



What kind of accommodations and dining can one expect when traveling with your group?

Brian:

Accommodations are dependent on the travel style our passengers select. Our Adventure Tours offer overnight camping, we select only the best campsites in the state, close to major cities, and always near or on the beach. We provide camping tents and sleeping pads, as well as all the cooking equipment needed to prepare group dinners. Through a communal food kitty ($40 per person per week), we manage to cover most food purchases for all breakfasts, lunches, and some dinners. Passengers are always free to eat out as they wish. Our accommodations for Comfort Tours include the most elegant, historical accommodations that Florida has to offer we stay in Victorian-style B&Bs, historical inns and vacation homes.

The dinning options match the level of accommodation with many opportunities to sample Florida's culinary creations, from seafood to southern-style Bar-B-Q. We still offer a food kitty that allows for picnic stop lunches and the occasional group dinner at a vacation rental, though meal offerings are dependent on the group's interests. And our food options for the Spring Break Road Trips are predominantly through the food kitty, although passengers have ample opportunity to eat out as they wish.

Norm:



Where is the starting and ending points of the tour?

Brian:

All of our tours begin and end in Miami's South Beach. Flying in/out of Miami from most domestic and international destinations is easy, shuttle service is very affordable, and our host departure locations are reasonably priced. We make getting to the tour departure location very easy, and then we do the rest.

Norm:



Which destinations in Florida are you favorite and why?

Brian:

As I learn more about the locations, I begin to take great interest in all of them. I love St. Augustine- it is a very beautiful town, with lots of history. The natural springs of N. Florida are also great the water is 72 degrees year round, and they are so different from the tropical environment of South Florida. Having visited Sanibel Island as a child always reminds me of the laid-back times I spent on the beach looking for shells. The enormity of the Everglades is awe-inspiring, and the dreams-really-do-come-true feel to Orlando makes for a magical time. I will stop there!

Norm:



Can you tell our readers something about the leaders who conduct these tours?

Brian:

All of our leaders are well trained and posses lots of experience even prior to working with us. In fact, I also lead tours from time to time. We make sure that our tour leaders are from Florida (or at least have lived here for many years). They are friendly, knowledgeable, and make passenger satisfaction their number one priority. Tour leaders have safe driving records and are trained in driver safety before leading their first tour..

Norm:



Why are your tours different from others of a similar nature?

Brian:

We offer the most in-depth, cost-friendly, and inclusive tour offerings of any company operating in Florida. No one else does what we do. Florida Adventure Treks offers three distinct travel styles for all types of travelers. We believe that traveling should be active and relaxing at the same time by combining a sense of adventure into an all-inclusive package tour, our passengers get an authentic Florida experience, learning about the destinations they visit, meeting fellow passengers from all over the United States and abroad, and feeling rejuvenated after spending one or two weeks with us.

Norm:



Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Brian:



Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. As an avid traveler looking to delve deep into the destinations and cultures I visit, I hope that Florida Adventure Treks can serve as that outlet for fellow travelers visiting Florida. Even if the Florida Adventure Trek's travel style is not for everyone, we hope that our expertise can help visitors to Florida plan their trips too. Our website provides more details about all of our tours, as well as information about the destinations we visit and history of those destinations please visit us at Florida Adventure Treks, LLC.



Thanks again Brian.





Norm Goldman practiced law for over 35 years and this enabled him to transfer and apply to book reviewing his many skills that he had perfected during his career in the legal profession and as a result he has become a prolific free lance book reviewer & author interviewer.

He is the Editor, Publisher and Reviewer for his own site, Bookpleasures.com (http://www.bookpleasures.com) that he created in 2002.

The site is composed of an international community of book reviewers that come from all walks of life that review all genres of fiction and non-fiction.

In addition to the complimentary reviews bookpleasures.com offers, Norm personally offers his own Priority Book Review service that you can find out more about by clicking on:

http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/categories/Do-You-Need-A-Quick-Review-Of-Your-Book%3F/

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